Internal-combustion engine



' May 7, 1929.

J. D. LANGDON INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Aug. 4, 1926 gmmrw 2 2 Patented May 7, 1929.

UNITE STATES .mssn n. moron, or nos mama's, cmoimn.

mmcomvmon mam Application fled August 4, 1926. semi in. 121,101.

The present invention relates to internal combustion engines, and aims to provide an engine having novel and simple means for introducing air under pressure 1n to the combustion chamber during the compression and exhaust strokes of the piston, in order to supercharge the combustion chamber with air and also scavenge the combustion chamber. 1 v

"Another object of the invention is the provision of an engine having a novel pis ton and cylinder construction for obtalnlng, during the compression and exhaust strokes of the piston, the delivery of air under pressure into the combustion chamber for the intended purposes as above indicated.

A further object is the provislon of a pistonand cylinder construction of the kind 1ndicated comprising a novel constructlon and 0 arrangement of the component elements, to .render the device practical and efiiclent.

With the foregoing and other ob]ects 1n view, which will be apparent as the description proceeds, the invent1on resldes 1n the construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter described and claimed} it being understood that changes can be made within the scope of what is claimed, w1th out departing from the spirit .of the nventlon. The invention is illustratedln the accompanying drawing, wherein Figurel is a longitudinal section of the two cylinders, showing the piston 1n elevation in its upper or outer position.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the cylinders and piston, with the piston in lower or inner position.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the piston, cylinders and valves. Fig. 4 is a sectional detail on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2. 1

As shown, the improvements are embodled in an internal combustion engine of conventional type, having the cylinder 7 and the cylinder head 8, and, m carrymg out the invention, a second concentric cylinder 9 of smaller diameter and shorter length is disposed within the cylinder 7. The cylinder 9 has the outstanding portions 10 and -11 at the upper and lower ends of the cylinder 9, and fitted tightly WithIIl thecylmder 7. If the cylinder 9 is to be a unitary part w th the cylinder 7, the ortions 10 and 11 are integral with the cy inder 7 butthe drawlng depicts how an ordinary engine may be converted to embody the present lmprovementsr As shown, the portions 10 and 11 are connected by an outer cylindrical wall 12, and there is an annular air chamber 13 of constant volume in the bushing or member of which the cylinder9 is a part. Thelower or inner portion 11 has air ports 14 over which check valves 15 are seatable, andthe upper, or outer portion 10 has air ports 16 over which check valves 17 are seatable. The valves are ball valves, as shown, and suitable guards or stops 18 are provided to prevent the valves from leaving their seats too far. I i

The usual piston which works in the cylinder 7 is substituted by a double-diametered piston having the section or part 19 of smaller diameter to work in the cylinder 9, and the section or part 21 of larger diameter to work in the cylinder 7 below the cylinder 9. The piston section 19 has packing rings 20 near its upper closed end, and the piston section 21 may also be provided with suitable packing rings. The piston section 21 has an upstanding boss 22 on which the lower end portion of the piston section 19 is screw-threaded or otherwise secured, and the boss 22 has an opening 23 receiving the up er end of the usual connecting rod 24.) he wrist pin 25 is inserted into a transverse opening in the boss 22 and through the bearing of the connecting rod 24, before the piston sections 19 and 21 are assembled, so that when, the piston section 19 is screw-threaded over the boss 22,. it will retain the wrist pin 25 in place, as seen in Fig. 4.

An air compression chamber .26 is pro vided around the piston section 19 between the portion 11 and pistonsection 21, and the piston section 19 is provided near its upper end with ports 27 to e moved below the portion 11 when the piston is in its lowermost position, as seen in Fig. 2.

The engine is of the usual four cycle operation, and has the usual intake and exhaust valves 28 as shown in Fig. 3, which are actuated the same as usual. The only change necessary in the engine is the insertion or use of the cylinder 9 within the cylinder 7 and the use. of the double-diamet'ered piston. A richer fuel mixture is provided, and the timing of the ignition being advanced will also increasethe efliciency.

In operation, during the intake stroke of the piston, the downward movement of the piston section 19 in ,thecylinder 9 will draw long strolre engine,

the carbureted airor fuel mixture into the combustion chamber in the usual manner,

and the piston section 21 moving downwardly' will enlarge the air compression chamber 26, so'that when the ports or 0 enw ings 27 move below the portion 11, air rom within the crank casing will flow through the opening 23 of the piston section 21 and through the openings or ports 37 into the chamber'flfi. Then, when the piston moves through its compression stroke, the piston section 19- moving upwardly in the cylinder 9 will compress the fuel mixture within the combustion chamber, and, at the same time, the air in the chamber 26 is compressed and forced upwardly through the ports 14 into the air chamber 13, from which u n downward movement of the piston section 21 will result in the chamber 26 again being filled with air, so that during the exhaust stroke the air in the chamber 26 is forced into and through the chamber 13. This will dischargeair through the ports 16 into the combustion chamber during the exhaust stroke of the, piston, so as to drive out the burnt :gas from the combustion. chamber,

and thereby scavenge the engine, and leaving only fresh air in the combustion chamher when the intalre strolre'is started.

It will benoted that although the stroke of the piston may be theflsame in. length as that of the ordinary piston (notshown) used in the cylinder Z, the cylinder 9 is of smaller diameter (one half of that ofthe cylinder 7 as shown) so that in proportion to the diameter of the cylinder h with refer ence the cylinder Z" a longer stroke is em ployed, for high speed operation, The engins thus converted into a small bore, With the piston in lowermost c-ositlon, as seen Fig. 2, the capacity or the chamber within the cylin der 9 plus the capacityot the chamber 26$ e ual the capacity within the cylinder 5" w on the ordinary piston, so that the same amount or mixture is compressed into the combustion chamber during therein-n pression stroke, and during the "explosion stroke the homing ehectiue on a muchless area oi the piston than when using the passion for the cylm der 7.,

nurses bodied ii -existing engines as well as being incorporated innew engines when built.

The air flowing through the piston from the crank casing will-assist in cooling the engine. Furthermore, the heat from the combustion or explosion chamber. within the cylinder head 8 "and-cylinder .9 is transmitted through the wallof the cylinder 9 so as to heat the air in the chamber 13.. This assists in cooling theengine, and, furthermore, the air-in the chamber 13 is expanded, in order to use the heat of the engine to advantage. Thus, the air within the chamber 13 being highly heated will increase con-' siderably in volume, due to expansion, thereby discharging the heated air through the orts 16 into the combustion chamber; This eated air mixes with the inflowing mixture, so as to assist in vaporizing the fuel and rendering the mixture more highly oombustible. During the explosionstroke of-the iston, the air within the chamber 13 being eated will, after the expansion of the burning gas is spent, cause the expansion of the air from the chamber 13 int the combustion chamber to assist in driving the piston downwardly. The enginethcrefore em bodies therewith .a thermal principle of operation, and the admission of air serves sev-. eral purposes, namely, (1) to supercharge the engine, v(2) to scavenge the. engine during the exhaust stroke of the piston, (33) to cool the engine, (4) to heat and vaporizethe inflowiug fuel, and (5) to add power by, utilizing the heat generated by the combustion of the fuel.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as newis 7 L 13 cycle engine comprising tW chamber of constant volume-for said oylinr ders only communicatin. withthe explosion and compression chain ers and stationary relatively to said cylinders for" the flow of air by compression through said. thirdnamedchamber into the explosion chamber from the air compression chamber, and valve means preventing the flow from the explosion chamber to the thirdnemed chamher and said thirdnamed to thecompressionchamber, J

2, A four cycle engine comprising two concentric nders of different diameters,

With orcsent improvements engine a iston sections oi difilerent diam rec a L 9 r c9 c5 eters working in said cylinders, with an explosion chamber within the cylinder of out-let to prevent the flow from the explosion chamber to the thirdnamed chamber and from said thirdnamed chamber to the com pression chamber.

3. A four cycle engine comprising two con-centric cylinders of diiferentdiameters, a piston having sections of different diameters working in said cylinders, with an explosion chamber within the cylinder of smaller diameter and an air compression chamber within the cylinder of larger diameter and means for admitting air to the air compression chamber, usual intake and exhaust valves for said explosion chamber for four cycle operation, an annular chamber surrounding the cylinder of smaller diameter and communicating with the explosion and compression chambers for the flow of air by compression through said thirdnamed chamber into the explosion chamber from the air compression chamber, and valve means preventing the flow from the explosion chambers to the thirdnamed chamber and from said thirdnamed chamber to the compression chamber. I

4. A four cycle engine comprising two concentric cylinders of different diameters, a piston having sections of different diameters Working in said cylinders, with an explosion chamber Within the cylinder of smaller diameter and an air compression chamber within the cylinder of larger diameter and means for admitting air to the an compression chamber, usual intake and exhaust valves for said explosion chamber for four cycle operation, an annular chamber surrounding the cylinder of smaller diameter and having an inlet-communicating with the compression chamber and an outlet communicating with the explosion chamber for the flow of air by compression through said thirdnamed chamber into the explosion chamber from the air compression chamber, and

check valves for said inlet and outlet to prevent the flow from the explosion chamber to the thirdnamed chamber and from the third- Eamed chamber to the compression cham- 5. A four cycle engine comprising a cylinder, a bushing fitted therein and forming a cylinder of smaller diameter, a piston having sections of diiierent diameters working in said cylinders, with an explosion chamber within the secondnamed cylinder and an air compression chamber within the firstnamed cylinder andmeans for admitting air to the air compression chamber, said bushing having a chamber therein communicating with both the explosion and compression chambers, and valve means preventing the flow from the explosion chamber to the thirdnamed chamber and from said thirdnamed chamber to the compression chamber.

6. A four cycle engine comprising a cylinder, a bushing fitted therein and providing a cylinder of smaller diameter, a piston having sections of different diameters working in said cylinders, with an explosion chamber within the secondnamed cylinder and an air compression chamber within the firstnamed cylinder and means foradmitting air to said air compression chamber, said bushing having an annular chamber therein surrounding the secondnamed cylinder with an inlet communicating with said compression chamber and an outlet communicating with said explosion chamber, and check valves for said inlet and outlet to prevent the flow from the explosion chamber to the thirdnamed chamher 'and from said thirdnamed chamber to v the compression chamber.

7. An engine comprising a cylinder, a bushing fitted within said cylinder and forming a cylinder of smaller diameter, a piston havingsections of different diameters working in said cylinders, with an explosion chamber within the secondnamed cylinder and an air compression chamberwithin the firstnamed cylinder'and means for admitting air to said compression chamber, said bushing having a chamber establishing communication between said compression and explosion chambers and valve means preventing the flow from the explosion chamber to the compression chamber. In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix m signature.

JESSE D. LANGDON. 

